Combination-case.



No. 755,515. PATENTED MAR.- 29, 1904.

W. B. UHATTERTON.

COMBINATION CASE. APPLICATION rum JULY 20, 1903.

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r d d a afl- 01/ Q "D M55555 No. 755,615. PATENTED MAR. 29,1904.

W. E. OHATTERTON.

COMBINATION CASE.

APPLICATION IILBD JULY 20, 1903. N0 MODEL. 1 2 SHEETS-SHEET.'2.

1 UNITED STATES Patented March 2% 1904:.

PATENT OFFICE.

com BlNATlON-C ASE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 755,615, dated March 29, 1904. Application filed July 20, 1903- Serlal No. 166,404. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that 1,WII.LIAM E. CHATTERTON, of Melrose, in the county of Middlesex and State of Massachusetts, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Combination- Cases, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in combination-cases, and has particular relation to devices for combining two or more inde-.

pendent cases to make a complete combination case adapted to contain merchandise, books,&c.

i The object of my invention is primarily to provide a combining device carried'by each case and movable to apposition where a part thereof will be interposed between and connect two adjacent independent cases in such manner as will prevent a relative movement of the cases without a positive disengagement, such device being,where cases are su perposed, concealed from view.

A further object is to provide an improved door-hanger and device for removably securing the door in position thereon.

Other and further objects will appear as the invention is hereinafter disclosed.

Said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts as more full y described in the specification, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 designates a front elevation of a single case. Fig. 2 is a similar view of acase having aplurality of shelves. Figs. 3 and at represent vertical cross-sectional views of thecases shown in Figs. 1 and 2, re'- spectively. Fig. 5 isan enlarged sectional view showing two cases in superposed relation. Figs. 6 and 7 are detail views of the combiningpins. Fig. 8 is a fragmentary plan view of the topof one of the cases, showing the combining-pin as nested within its recess, the catch being in position to retain the pin against movement to project from the face of the case. Fig. 9 is'a similaoview showing the arrangement of the devices where two cases are arranged end to end, the pin of the ease shown on the right being in position to receive a superposed case. Fig. 10 is a sectional View taken on the line 10 10 of Fig. 9

and showing the superposed case in position. Figs. 11 and 12 represent different forms of the door-support, the latter form shown ineluding ashelf-support. Fig. 13 is a side elevation of one of the doorpieces. Fig. 14 is a sectional view showing one construction of stop used in connection with the door-support.' Fig. 15 is a fragmentary sectional view showing the manner in which the stop shown in Fig. 14 is located relatively to th'e.door support. Fig. 16 is a sectional view showing the door raised. Fig. 17 is aface view of one of the faces of the case, showing the location of the several recesses and openings to receive the combining-pins.

I am aware that combination-eases have.

been heretofore constructed; but generally the construction has been such as to require special forms of cases, 620., while the door-hangers, &e., are objectionable on account of the binding or sticking of the door while passing in and out of the case. In the present invention these disadvantages are overcome, the combining devices and the metal door'hangers herein disclosed providing structures which permit of the ready assembling or disassem bling of the eases,the doors also being arranged to run freely, the hangers being so constructed to permit of the doors being hung in any desired position.

While the drawings disclose a complete embodiment of the invention, it will be readily understood that the invention as herein described and claimed may be applied in other forms, and I retain the right to make and use the same in so far as such modifications may fall within the spirit and scope of'the invention as set forth in the claims.

. In the drawings A designates a single case,

havingthe usual bottom, top, ends, and rear, the front being open and having the door a, which may be of any preferred construction. B designates a similar case, but being of greater height provides suflicient space for the insertion of shelves 6, the spaces each having a separate door. It will be readily understood that the manner of constructing the cases or the sizes or relative arrangement of the interior may be of any preferred construetion.

opening '0, within which is pivotally mounted j what I term a combining-pin The pin a.

' ..is of a preferable length, having near one end a an opening-(see FigQ-G) forthepivot 0(see Fig.

) and. is provided on opposite faces with suitable retaining means for a purpose presently described, said; means being shown in the drawings as a lug or shoulder 0. on the one side and an L-shaped hook 0 providing a recess c, on the opposite side. While I have shown these specific'means, it will be understood that any other suitable retaining means may be employed-as for instance, bynotching or grooving the pin. 0 designates a combining-hook or catch pivotally mounted on the face of the plate 0 and having engaging faces c 'c,.which cooperate with either of the retaining means 'cand o, as requ'red. Insecuringthe device in position the top of the case is recessed to receive the plate 0,- one end of the latterlying flush with the end surface of the case, as shownin Figs. 8, 9, and 10, the recess being of a greater depth than the thickness.' of the plate 0, thereby, in effect, countersinking the latter, it being intended that the entire device when in'its nested position will have no portion projecting above-the plane of the top surface of the case.- As shown in FigxlO, the case is also provided with a recess 0" to receive the lug 0 The bottom of the case is provided with openings 0, corresponding in position to and adapted to receive the combining-pin 0 when the latter is raised,

said openings being of a shape which will permit of the pin, with its lag and hook, entering therein, as shownin Fig. 10. In use when 'a single case is used the pin is in its nested position, the face 0 of the catch 0 passing within the recess 0 thereby positively retaining the pin against movement on its pivot. When two cases are arranged side by side or end to end, the pins are. retained in their nested position, each catch 0*, however, being swungaround to pass into the recess 0 of the pin carried by the opposing case, inthis instance the face cpassing within the recess 0 In both-cases the top surface of the case orcases arefree froni projections. When it is desired to place one. case'above the other in superposed relation, the catch a ismoved to free the pin 0, after which the latter is raisedto a position at right angles to the plane of the plate a and the catch 0 moved in position beneath the lug or shoulder 0 as shown to the rightin Fig. 10, thus locking the pin against a return movement. Any suitable means may be provided, if desired, to

v limit the pivotal movement of the pin against are to be combined, two being "arranged end to end,-. the third being superposed, as shown in Fig. 10, the arrangement is the same as above stated in connection with the two adjacent cases, with the exception that the pins 0 of the case carrying the superposed case extend vertically and pass into the openings 0 .of the superposed case, the catch 0 of the op posing case passing beneath the shoulder 0 instead of into the recess a. When two pair of superposed cases are combined end to end, all combining-pins are raised,- the 'catches 0* passing beneath the shoulders 0 In other words, when the top surface of-the case is unoccupied the catch 0 passes into the recess 0 of the pin. When occupied, the catch 0 passes beneath the shoulder 0 thereby locking the pinin-either' extreme of its movement, the engaging face of the catch which is used depending on whether buta single case is used or whether two. cases located end to end are used. One or more devices may be used at each end of the case and any desired number may be-used at the back of the case, if desired, it being understood that the bottom of the case will be provided with a corresponding'number of openings 0. As the plate 0 extends flush with the end surface of the case, a continuous countersunk portion will beprovided throughout the length of the two opposing devices when cases are arranged end to end, so that there will be no projecting portion of the device at any time, while the-device will be entirely concealed when superposed cases are combined. As will be readily understood, when the cases are in superposed position the pin 0, being held against a movement pivotal'ly. prevents the cases being moved laterally relatively to each other.

' D designates the door-hanger, consisting of a plate d, adapted'to besecured to the end of the case and having an angular portion d, forming a support'and wearplate for the door. The front portion of the plate 03 is bent downward and rearward, as at a to provide an open-ended recess (P, as shown. If desired, the pla'tev d may be of suflici'ent height to extend beyond the upper surface ofthe door when resting on the plate 03, the upper edge 0f the plate (1 in such case being bent outward to form a support for a shelf, as shown in Fig. 4. The door is provided with adoor-piece E, having a flat surface e, adapted to ride on the plate d, the door-piece being secured to the underside of the door. The piece e is also provided with a downwardly-extending lug e, having an opening for a stop 6 as shown in Figs. 14: and 15, the construction in these figures showing a spring-actuated stop. It will be obvious, however, that the stop. may be formed by simply providing a screwthreaded pin and complemental opening in the lug, the stop being intended to normally retain the door from being withdrawn, the exposed end of the stop riding into the recess (7, said stop, however, being movable to a point where the door may be moved from out of contact with the hanger. As indicated in the drawings, the upper edge of the door may be rounded or cut away to permit of its being oscillated, the stop forming the pivot, the opposing surface of the case being cut away, as at u, to permit this movement. It will be understood that the opposing faces 15' and a being of metal the movement of the door will have no tendency to bind, and hence the door may be readily moved to the desired position.

Having thus described my invention, pointing out one form in which the same may be carried out, but without specifying in detail all of the various modifications thereof which may fall within the spirit and scope of the invention, what I claim as new is 1. A combining device for retaining two separable parts of combination-cases inrelative juxtaposition, comprising a pin having a pivotal' movement within the limits of a right angle, and means for retaining the pin in either extreme of its movement.

2. A combining device for retaining two sep-' arable parts of combination-cases in' relative juxtaposition, comprising a pin carried by one of the casesand having a pivotal movement within the limits of a right angle, said pin being adapted to enter a recess of a superposed case when in raised position, and means for retaining the pin in either extreme of its movement.

3. A combining device for retaining two separable parts of combination-cases in relative V juxtaposition, comprising a plate carried by one of the cases; a pin carried by said plate and having a pivotal movement within the limits of a right angle, and means carried by said plate for retaining the pin in either extreme of its movement.

4. A combining device for retaining two sepi arable parts of combination-cases in relative juxtaposition, comprising a plate having a pivoted pin adapted to project in a direction at a right angle to the plane of the plate and to enter openings in a superposed case, and a combining hook or catch attached to said plate adapted to hold the pin in desired positions. 5. The combination with a plurality of cases having openings in the bottoms thereof, of.

combining devices permanently attached to the tops of the cases'fior retaining said cases in fixed relative positions, said devices com prising a'plate-having a pivoted pin adapted to project at a right angle to the plane of the plate, and a hook adapted to engage said pin in either its upright or nested positions.

6. The combination with a plurality of cases in fixed relative positions, said devices comprising a plate having a pin pivoted thereto and adapted to project from the upper side thereof and in a direction at a right angle to the plane of said plate, and a hook adapted to engage the pin of the case to which it is attached or of the opposing case.

7 A combining device for retaining separable parts of combination-cases in relative juxtaposition, said device comprising a plate having a pivoted pin attached thereto adapted to lie flush with the face of said plate and mov" able to a position to project at a right angle to the plane of the plate, said pin being adapt ed to enter a suitable opening in the bottom of a superposed case, and having a combininghook movable to either retain said pin in a fixed position or engage the pin of an adjacent case to hold said cases against positive disengagement.

8. A case of the character described, having a door provided with stops, and door-hangers each comprising an attaching plate or base, a flange projecting therefrom and adapted to support said door slidingly thereon, one end of each flange being bent downward and backward to form a loop or stop, the stops of said flanges being adapted to coact with the corresponding stops carried by the door to limit the outward movement of the latter.

9. A case of the character described having a door provided with stops, and door-hangers each comprising an attaching plate or base, a flange projecting from its upper edge to support a shelf, and a'flange projecting from its lower edge to slidingly support said door, one end of the lower flange being provided with a stop to coact with one of the door-stops to limit the outward movement of the door.

10. A case of the character described having a plurality of doors, said doors being provided with stops, and means coactin g with said doors and stops for guiding the doors in their inward and outward movements, said means comprising attaching-plates, each plate having a flange projecting from one edge to guide the door, said flange having an integral stop to coact with one of the door-stops to limit the outward movement of the door.

In testimony whereof I have affixed my signature in presence of two witnesses.

WILLIAM E. CHATTERTON.

Witnesses:

R. M. PIERSON, E. P. LUCIA.

TIC- 

